Morgan named All-PBC
AUGUSTA, GA - Georgia Southwestern freshman Michael Morgan has been selected to the 2008 men's soccer All-Peach Belt Conference second team. The announcement was made this afternoon at a luncheon in Evans, Ga., site of the PBC Championship Tournament.
Morgan anchored the most successful defensive line in GSW history. Starting all 18 games, the former Rockdale County (Conyers, Ga.) standout made an immediate impact as the only addition to the backline this season. The Hurricanes forced a 64% drop in PBC goals allowed from 25 to nine which took the team from seventh in the conference in goals allowed to a tie for fourth. In addition, the 'Canes forced a 21% decrease in shots allowed in conference play from 2007.
As the gem of his first recruiting class, head coach Warren Russ had this to say about Morgan, "Michael has given everything I expected of him and more. He provided us with skill, leadership and determination whenever we needed it. He led by example from the front and was never afraid to carry responsibility on his own shoulders. It was my pleasure to coach him and I believe this is just the beginning for Michael Morgan and GSW soccer."
Lander's Aaron Brittain was named the PBC Player of the Year while Clayton State's Leighton Fredericks was honored as the Freshman of the Year. Francis Marion's Kevin Varnado was named the Coach of the Year. The PBC named 23 student-athletes to the all-conference team with 11 receiving first-team honors. A tie for the final at-large spot boosted the second-team number to 12.
Brittain led the Peach Belt Conference in total points in 2008 with 29 and was second in the PBC with 12 goals. The sophomore from Cleveland, England, had three game-winning goals during the course of the regular season an had two multi-goal games. Brittain continues a rich history of men's soccer at Lander, becoming the seventh Bearcat to earn PBC Player of the Year honors and the third in the last four years. Nick Cooke last won the award for Lander in 2006.
The 2008 All-Conference team is listed below as selected by the league's head coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Forwards
First Team
Adam Arthur, Lander
Aaron Brittain, Lander
Second Team
Leighton Fredericks, Clayton State
Juan Rivas, Francis Marion
Midfielders
First Team
Kyle Clinton, Francis Marion
Miguel Ferrer, UNC Pembroke
Johnny Lara, Clayton State
Second Team
Jamie Davidson, Lander
Ivan Juric, Francis Marion
Kyle Timm, Clayton State
Defenders
First Team
Martyn Bell, Lander
Ben Chedgy, North Georgia
Willie Hunt, Francis Marion
Second Team
Patrick Ahern, Clayton State
John Lesko, USC Aiken
Michael Morgan, Georgia Southwestern
Player of the Year
Aaron Brittain, Lander
Freshman of the Year
Leighton Fredericks, Clayton State
Coach of the Year
Kevin Varnado, Francis Marion
At-Large
First Team
Kofi Akyere, USC Aiken
Terry Gibbs, North Georgia
Second Team
Horatio Bynes, UNC Pembroke
Matty Phillips, Clayton State
Adrian Sikorski, Francis Marion
Goalkeepers
First Team
Billy Hale, Lander
Second Team
Clark Richeson, Francis Marion